KAMLOOPS — A TRU professor is writing a book on the health effects of various air pollutants that will include a chapter on this summer's wildfires.

"It's really important that we understand the nature of the risk and how it's managed," said Michael Mehta, Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at TRU. "There was a lot of government mismanagement of the exposures and denial on the part of government as well as everyday people to admit that these risks exist."

According to Mehta, wood smoke contains more than 200 toxic chemicals and can cause a vareity of health issues for people of all ages.

"There's studies that link air pollution to kidney disease. There are even a large number of studies emerging on osteoporosis risks where pollution is affecting the important proteins and hormones that are responsible for laying down mass."

Mehta says his book will focus on public reaction to the summer wildfires, government response as well a comparison of air quality data provided by the environment ministry and the air quality monitoring website Purple Air.

"The objective is to explain to the public how our understanding of air pollution has changed and to stimulate changes in policy and cue family doctors to look for the effects of exposure to air pollution."

The city reached a stagering level 49 on the Air Health Quality Index during the height of the wildfire season.

• The Surgeon General has determined that there is no safe level of exposure to ambient smoke!

• If you smell even a subtle odor of smoke, you are being exposed to poisonous and carcinogenic chemical compounds!

• Even a brief exposure to smoke raises blood pressure, (no matter what your state of health) and can cause blood clotting, stroke, or heart attack in vulnerable people. Even children experience elevated blood pressure when exposed to smoke!

• Since smoke drastically weakens the lungs' immune system, avoiding smoke is one of the best ways to prevent colds, flu, bronchitis, or risk of an even more serious respiratory illness, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis! Does your child have the flu? Chances are they have been exposed to ambient smoke!